Image data collection from mobile vehicles with computer, GPS, and IP-based communication

ABSTRACT

A system and method to capture a plurality of images and store the captured images. The system has multiple camera systems capable of transmitting image data. At least one camera system is equipped with an apparatus for determining location coordinates such as GPS. A computer system monitors location coordinates, retrieves image data from the camera systems, and stores the image data into a file. A contiguous array of location coordinates is entered and the computer system locates camera systems within the contiguous array of location coordinates; retrieves image data from the located camera systems; and files the image data taken from each of the camera systems to obtain a file of image data. The system provides the ability to serially interleave frames or video captured from multiple sources.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/413,193, filed Apr. 28, 2006 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,872,593), theentirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to retrieving and utilizing image data from mobilevehicles and other sources.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Originally video surveillance was based on analog technology such asclosed circuit television (CCTV) and recording on video tapes. This wasfine for recording an event, but such surveillance systems didn'tbroadcast actual live information, so such surveillance wasn't practicalfor monitoring locations, for instance, from a remote location to obtainreal-time information. Moreover, picture quality was typically grainyand tapes needed to be changed regularly.

Other sources of video footage often have been citizens with a camera.Footage of an event may be captured by the citizen, but usually thisfootage is turned in to authorities or news agencies at a time after theevent and is not useful as real-time information to possibly prevent acrime or terrorist act.

As technology developed, real-time video cameras replaced analogtechnology. For example, real-time video cameras were mounted on tope ofpoles for traffic surveillance. These systems became accessible throughbroadcast stations and then the internet. This type of surveillanceallowed real-time viewing of traffic events from fixed locations. Suchsystems have also been set up by security firms that place video camerasinside and outside building for surveillance. However, video dataobtained from stationary sources, such as traffic cameras, often are toofar from the scene or facing the wrong direction. It would be difficultand expensive to provide cameras on all roads in a given area to providefull coverage.

Cameras also have been mounted in vehicles, such as police cars, forrecording events. These cameras record events such as arrests andpursuits. The recording of these events provide evidence forprosecutors, but also may provide a deterrent if the suspect knows he orshe is being recorded.

Real-time video data is becoming increasingly important to providesecurity and legal justification for court rulings, e.g., subpoenas.Real time video data can provide information from an event such as ascene of a crime, a car accident, terrorist activity, and the like. Lawenforcement, crime investigators, and terrorist specialists, forexample, can use real time video data to catch criminals or preventcrimes or terrorist acts.

It is therefore desired to collect real-time video data feed fromseveral sources via communications and then integrate the data into acomposite to determine a sequence of events such as at a scene of acrime, a car accident, a terrorist event, and the like, or to comparereal time video to archived video or still picture data to identifyunusual or out-of-place objects.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the invention include a system for capturing a plurality ofimages, such as of an object or a geographic area, and storing a file ofimages. Further aspects include multiple camera systems, such asIP-based camera systems or IPIX camera systems, the camera systemscapable of transmitting image data. Further aspects include at least onecamera system being equipped with an apparatus for determining locationcoordinates such as a GPS. Further aspects include a computer systemcapable of monitoring location coordinates, retrieving image data fromthe camera systems, and/or storing the image data in a file. In furtheraspects, the computer system is capable of, upon entry of a contiguousarray of location coordinates, locating at least one camera systemhaving location coordinates within the contiguous array of locationcoordinates; retrieving image data from the at least one located camerasystem, and storing the image data taken from each of the camerasystems.

In further aspects, the computer system can locate a plurality of thecamera systems in mobile vehicles, respectively and can monitor thelocation coordinates continuously or on demand by the computer system.

In further aspects, the computer system can access a database havingarchived images, for example of objects or geographic areas, forcomparison with the image data from the camera systems; can filterimages to eliminate images; and/or can retrieve images in real-time. Theimage data can be a video stream.

In further aspects, at least one of the camera systems can constantlyrecord images and the recorded images can be retrievable by thecomputer.

Another aspect of the invention is a method for obtaining and filingimages comprising the steps of receiving input into a computer systemincluding a contiguous array of location coordinates; polling camerasystems in the vicinity of the contiguous array of location coordinates;retrieving image data from the camera systems; filtering the image datafor content; and creating a file of filtered image data.

Further aspects include comparing the image data with archived images;obtaining image data from at least one camera system located on a mobilevehicle; obtaining image data from a plurality of the camera systemslocated in mobile vehicles, respectively; continuously monitoring thelocation coordinates; and/or filtering the image data to eliminateimages, for example, images not containing an object or geographic area.

Further aspects include retrieving the image data in real-time. Otheraspects include at least one of the camera systems constantly recordingimages; the recorded images being retrievable by the computer. The imagedata may comprise frames, video, or both. The method may also seriallyinterleave the image data from multiple sources.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graphic representation of several vehicles moving on, under,or over a bridge in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 depicts a view of a bridge from a camera mounted on a vehiclemoving on the bridge in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 depicts a view of the entrance to the bridge of FIG. 1 from acamera mounted on an overpass in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 6 depicts a view of a bridge from a camera mounted on a vehicle onthe water in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Soon, many, if not all, mobile vehicles will have some type ofcommunication system e.g., wireless internet access, as well as GPS orother type of location capability. The present invention takes advantageof mobile vehicles that have cameras, GPS, and communication systems, totransmit time, space, and video information. (GPS will be discussed forconvenience, but any appropriate location devices, such as an electroniccompass, triangulation device, radar, sonar, or combination of locationdevices is contemplated.) The information is retrieved, filtered, andfiled and may be compared with information taken from other mobilevehicles to provide a set of images of for example a specified location.The information may also be compared with archived information, forexample, to find objects in real-time images that are not present in thearchived images.

The present invention provides the ability for interested agencies, e.g.the Port Authority, Federal Transportation Agency, and other governmentagencies on the federal, state, and local level, to capture a constantor semi-constant image data from any geographic point in which mobilevehicles are passing or have recently passed. The system may be used formonitoring a geographic area on a periodic basis or for monitoring thegeographic area on an as-needed basis.

The mobile vehicle may be any suitable mobile vehicle on which a cameraand GPS may be mounted. Such vehicles include, but are not limited to,cars, trucks, buses, motorcycle, bicycles (and other two-wheeledvehicles), boats, trains, airplanes, helicopters, and satellites.

For example, FIG. 1 shows a graphical representation of a bridge 10.Information is desired on an object 12 discovered on the bridge. Basedon GPS data, vehicles located near or on the bridge are accessed andimages retrieved from cameras on the vehicles. For example, vehicle 14,e.g. a car, is moving east on the bridge and vehicle 15, e.g. a truck,is moving west on the bridge. Both of these vehicles are heading towardobject 12 and images from cameras mounted in these vehicles may be ableto provide information on the object. Vehicle 16, e.g. a boat, isheading toward the bridge and images from cameras mounted in thisvehicle also may be able to provide information on the object. Inaddition, a top view of the bridge may be obtained from vehicle 17, aplane, helicopter, or satellite having its own camera system and GPS.Vehicle 18, on the other hand, is moving away from the object, and imagedata taken from a camera on this vehicle may not be useful (unless thisvehicle, for example, has IPIX camera or a camera mounted to take imagesfrom behind. The images taken from any or all of vehicles 14, 15, 16 and17 may be retrieved, filtered, and compared with images taken from stillcameras mounted on posts 20 and 22. In this case, camera 20 is mountedto view the main body of the bridge possible providing usefulinformation whereas camera 22 is mounted to view the entrance of thebridge and may not provide useful information. In addition, archivedimages may provide comparative images. Thus, the images and informationassociated with the images (such as focal length, compass headings,etc.), collectively referred to as image data, from all of the sourceson or near the bridge, are retrieved and filtered to provide a file ofimages of the object on the bridge.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic of the operation of the system of the presentinvention. multiple vehicles 31, 32, 33 and 34, each have a apparatusfor determining location coordinates such as GPS 35, 36, 37 and 38,respectively, and a camera system, 39, 40, 41 and 42, respectively. Acentral computer 45 has a device to input information 46 and a screenoutput to view images 47. A location of an object, for example, isinputted into input device 46 by wireless communication, the computeraccesses the GPS (or other suitable apparatus) of vehicles within itssystem and determines which vehicles are in the vicinity of the object.Once determined, by wireless communication, the computer accesses thecamera system of the relevant vehicles and downloads the image data fromeach of the camera systems of the relevant vehicles. The computerfilters the image data for relevant images and forms a file based on therelevant images to provide visual information 47 of the object. Thecomputer may also use archived information from database 48 forcomparison purposes.

A flowchart of one embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. Acontiguous array of desired location coordinates is inputted into acomputer 50. The contiguous array of location coordinates defines acertain area or region of interest. Vehicles having camera systems inthe vicinity of the contiguous array of location coordinates are located52. Images are retrieved from these vehicles 54. The images are filteredfor content 56; compared 58 with each other or with archived pictures,and then stored.

A camera system in accordance with the invention includes any suitablecamera mounted on a mobile vehicle that records digital video images,digital photograph images, or both. The camera system may also be aninfrared camera or any other system that records images based on head,for example. Such systems would be useful at night when there is littlelight available. In addition to, or alternative to, a camera system,acoustic systems may be used to record sounds or vibrations. Othersystems may be used to record environment conditions such as smog,temperature, and the like.

The camera system includes means to transmit image data, for example, toa computer (microprocessor) installed in the vehicle or to transferimage data to a receiver located in an area remote from the camera. Suchcamera systems and corresponding software are commercially sold such asIP-based camera systems and IPIX camera systems.

Suitable cameras are typically mounted on the dashboard but also may beintegrated into the body of the vehicle. The camera should havestabilization features to suppress vibrations, etc.

The camera may record continuously or intermittently, such as every 1-10seconds, or may record when instructed by the computer. The camerashould be able to record at high speed to eliminate poor quality images.

The camera may have a fixed lens setting and focal length, or may haveadjustable lens settings and focal lengths that operate automatically,manually, or both. The camera system includes means to record the lenssettings, focal length, tilt and pan and transmit the information alongwith the images as image data. Image data may also include the date,time of day, compass heading of the camera, and weather conditions suchas temperature and barometric pressure.

For example, an IP-based or network video camera mounted on the hood ofa car can take real-time video and feed the image data stream to acomputer remote from the vehicle. IP-based or network cameras arereadily available and utilize existing computer networks to integratehigh-quality video imaging. Such cameras feature built-in web servers.An IP address within the camera itself can be accessed through anystandard web browser to view the camera in operation. The cameras arehighly configurable and feature options such as image compression. Thecameras also offer security features such as multiple password access toallow a variety of authorized personnel to access the camera.

The digital video can go live over the Internet or a closed network forsurveillance and provide clearer, crisper images that can be tracked andmanipulated easily. Digital video surveillance allows the viewer toeasily zoom in on images, track particular scenes, and enhance videofeatures.

Suitable cameras also include IPIX cameras. Such cameras permit one totake a virtual tour of an area where the camera is located. IPIX camerascontain fish eye lenses which can capture a whole sphere. Using IPIXcameras avoid the pitfall of fixed cameras since at least some portionof a captured image at a given latitude and longitude may be of interestto the requestor. Attention is drawn to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,185,667;5,990,941 and 6,795,113, which are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entirety. In particular, FIG. 11 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,795,113describes the use of an IPIX camera moving along an axis A and takingimages as the camera moves providing a virtual tour of the surroundingarea. The IPIX camera may be set to record images intermittently, e.g.every second. The distorted images are un-warped and may be filtered toobtain the desired images.

The apparatus for determining location coordinates, for example the GPS,may be a portable unit or a unit installed in the vehicle. The GPSshould be capable of transmitting location data to a computer installedin the vehicle or be capable of transmitting the location data to areceiver in a location remote from the GPS. Location data from the GPSincludes longitude, latitude, altitude, and time. The GPS may also beused to transmit weather conditions such as temperature, wind speed, andbarometric pressure.

Alternative to, or combined with, a GPS, an electronic compass may beused. Such compasses may display several compass readings and have clockand timer. Other systems contain alerts at 35° F. to warn of freezingroad conditions.

In addition radar, sonar, or other distance recording devices may beused to collect location data from the vehicle.

The location data from the GPS or other sources and the image data fromthe camera systems may be combined in a computer within the vehicle andthen transmitted to a remote location or may be independentlytransmitted to a remote location.

The combination of image data and location data from the camera systemand the GPS, respectively, allows the combined data to be compared withcombined data taken from other vehicles to form a file of real-timeimages to view independently, collectively, or in sequence.

The data from the camera system and GPS may be transmitted continuouslyor on an as-needed basis. The camera system may be constantly recordingimages or may be turned on either from a computer within the vehicle orremotely.

The present invention utilizes the camera system and GPS data to gatherintelligence information from several sources and combine theinformation into an accessible file and/or compare the information toarchived information. The file may include data of the same locationfrom several different perspectives, the same location at sequentialtimes, or both.

The information is transmitted to a main computer, for example. The maincomputer may be at a stationary site or may be a mobile site such as atransport van. Access to the main computer may be at the computer siteor remotely. For example, police may be able to access the informationfrom their cruisers, or one vehicle may be able to access informationfrom a vehicle further along the road to view road conditions andtraffic information. This allows a driver, for example, to seekalternative routes if traffic is snarled along a certain route.

For example, on heavily traveled roads, there is a constant stream oftraffic going past every point at any given time. In accordance with theinvention, multiple vehicles are equipped with an IP-based camera systemfor video recording and a GPS to record location. While traveling alongthe road, the camera system in each vehicle records the time for eachvideo frame captured. The information is transmitted to a locationremote from the vehicle such as a main computer. The video informationis coordinated with GPS information to provide the exact location of thevehicle either in a computer in the vehicle or at the location remotefrom the vehicle.

The computer retrieves the GPS and video information, essentially acollection of video screen sets from a set of different vehicles passingthe same point, and combines the sets into a file for suitable uses suchas viewing the video clips of a given location, splicing multiple imagestogether, comparing images with archived images, or any other usesavailable from software.

For example, the information can include the same point at differentangles and at different times and displayed on multiple screens forcomparison purposes. The images can be combined to show the same pointat the same time, the same point at multiple times, or both. Theinvention allows video information to be obtained without the need of amotionless camera on the site. Alternatively, the video information canbe combined with information taken from a motionless camera at the siteto provide a more detailed composite of an event or location.

The system can allow the ability to turn on a set of vehicles withcameras for recording video, sound, or other in a certain region. Forexample if a bank robbery is committed, the escape of the thief could berecorded by cameras on various vehicles. However the direction the thiefis escaping may not be known and thus it may not be known which vehiclesshould be accessed. In accordance with an aspect of the invention,cameras in vehicles within expanding concentric circles (as timeelapses) record to ensure all directions of possible escape arerecorded. That is a contiguous array of location coordinates are entereddefining the expanding concentric circles. The desired regions forrecording are monitored by a computer from signals obtained from, forexample, GPS systems in the vehicles to provide location information.Based on theses signals, recordings are accessed from relevant vehicles.

Alternatively, a signal may be sent to all vehicles and vehicles havingan appropriate algorithm can determine whether it meets certain locationcoordinates and associated radius. That is, the vehicle would compareits current location with the region involved (for example, usingPythagorean math) to determine if it is inside the region (to record) oroutside the region (to not record) to capture the information in theregion specified.

The contiguous array of location coordinates can be used to define anydesired area, e.g. based on a grid or a circle. The location coordinatescan be provided as longitude and latitude. Other vehicle traits may bemonitored, e.g., time, direction of travel, change in latitude, vehiclespeed, temperature, weather conditions, etc. Such information wouldallow a variety of surveillance, for example, all vehicles travelingnorth at an upward angle of 20 degrees on a certain mountain range couldbe monitored to capture a collision between two planes. Other monitoredtraits may be useful such as camera angle, focal length, etc.

Additional topographical/geographical terrain information may also betaken into account, e.g., an impassable mountain range/canyon (e.g.,Grand Canyon) would provide a boundary for the search region that is notcircular, for instance semicircular.

The images may be accessed in real-time. However, images may be recordedto determine a past course of events, such as a car accident. Forexample, a general query is sent from a computer searching for vehiclesthat passed a given point in a target interval of time. These vehicles,if so programmed, send recorded video and corresponding GPS informationto the computer where images of the particular event are filtered andreviewed.

The image data might become accessible by plugging the camera system ina car into a network cable in a garage, for example. The images or videowould have a greater time delay, but the amount of wireless bandwidthrequired would be reduced. (Wireless bandwidth is much more expensivethan downloading the data through a wired network e.g., house cablemodem to internet to agency requesting the video information.

Alternatively, vehicle images, such as video recordings, are viewed inreal-time in anticipation of an event occurring at a certain time andplace such as in a car chase or a terrorist event. Moreover, a desiredset of screens are collected from a set of vehicles at the point thevehicles pass the place for a given time interval.

The system may also be used to obtain footage of car chases, forexample. When a police report comes in reporting a car chase on ahighway, for example, the vehicles on the highway can be accessed andtheir cameras activated for monitoring the chase.

In addition to mobile camera systems, additional motionless cameras maybe installed at fixed locations such as bridges at a fixed latitude,longitude, and altitude. Since location is fixed, a GPS unit would beunnecessary for these cameras. However, the images being transmittedshould include a unique identifier and/or the location and time of therecording.

Such cameras may also operate continuously, or may take images at givenintervals. Access to these cameras may be on an as-needed basis,periodically, or continuously. Such cameras may also be used to producearchive images to use as frames of reference for the video images takenfrom mobile vehicles.

Satellite images showing topography may also be used to provide acomposite of the picture. The satellite would provide appropriatelocation coordinates for locating the position of the satellite when theimages were taken as well as camera system data such as focal strengthand lens information.

Archived images may be stored in databases of government agencies, suchas the Port Authority, to use as reference points at a later time. Suchimages may be updated periodically to capture a location in differentseasons or, for example, during different phases of construction orroadwork. These cameras are polled periodically to collect images of thedesired location.

The system of the invention allows instant real-time access to a givenlocation and may focus on a certain landmark or object. For example, bykeying in a given landmark, the system polls vehicles within an areapotentially capable of viewing the landmark. This is achieved using theGPS units that continuously transmit their location. Once the vehiclesare identified, the image data is accessed from the camera unit in thevehicle. The camera may be run continuously or periodically.Alternatively, upon receipt of a request, the camera may be turned on.

Using an appropriate program, image data this is not helpful isdisregarded. For example, the vehicle may be facing the wrong direction,i.e. away from the landmark or region of interest. Image data that ishelpful is identified including the focal length of the cameral lens andangle of the camera. This image data is coordinated with the positionidentified by the GPS, longitude, latitude, and altitude.

The image data is combined from different sources, for example fromseveral vehicles. Combining image data allows views from differentangles and positions. The computer may correlate pictures taken frommultiple sources, by using the location information from the GPS as wellas camera information, such as focal length. For example, programs existfor splicing together overlapping images to provide a single imagecovering a larger area. Images can be lined up using digital imagingtechniques, e.g., matched filter to align the images to allow thereal-time or semi-real time video to be created.

The image data may provide sufficient information on its own. Forinstance, the images may be processed to look for an object of interestusing existing software. A database accessible by the computer couldinclude information such as descriptions or images of exemplary objectsor descriptions of persons for comparison purposes. The image data maybe compared to archived pictures to determine unusual objects oractivity at the landmark. For example, a suspicious object may bevisible from the image data that is not present in the archivedpictures.

The system of the invention could be useful during a catastrophe. Forexample, suppose the port Authority receives information that a fueltruck overturned on the George Washington Bridge. As much information asis available would need to be gathered and analyzed regarding theBridge. With the system of the invention, a data base containinginformation of vehicles with camera systems and GPS units is accessed.The GPS data of the vehicles is polled, and if a vehicle is nearing thevicinity of the Bridge, or crossing the Bridge, the image data from thecamera mounted on the vehicle can be viewed instantly and in real-time.For instance, FIG. 4 shows a camera mounted on a vehicle about to crossthe Bridge.

The system of the invention can serially interleave frames or videocaptures from multiple sources. For example, there are three cars, A, B,C passing a spot on the George Washington Bridge moving in the same laneone behind each other, the following is what would be captured,retrieved, and serially strung together to create a video clip of thatlocation for the time duration specified.

Car Time Duration Car Speed (mph) Image Cont A 10:00:00.000 to 10 msec40 1 (image A1) 10:00:00.010 B 10:00:00.010 to 40 msec 10 4 (B1, B2, B3,B4) 10:00:00.050 C 10:00:00.050 to 20 msec 20 2 (C1, C2) 10:00:00.070

The images can be combined to create a short video clip using frames:A1, B1, B2, B3, B4, C1, C2 to allow a 70 msec to capture the video atthe associated location between the time of 10:00:00.000 and10:00:00.070. Assuming the video capture rate in all three vehicles isthe same, the number of frames captured moving past a certain locationswould in general be inversely proportional to the speed of the car.

In addition to obtaining real-time images, historic GPS information canbe reviewed to determine which vehicles have passed by, or crossed theBridge, over a given time period. Based on the GPS information, recordedimages from these vehicles can be accessed to view recorded imagesleading up to a truck overturning, for example. Such images would beuseful for accident reconstruction.

Images data is obtained from as many sources as possible. For example,as shown in FIG. 6, image data location information, can be obtainedfrom boats on the river below the Bridge. Moreover, stationary cameras,such as shown in FIG. 5, can be used for viewing the traffic at theentrance to the bridge.

A computer collects all of the information including image dataincluding images and camera data such as focal lengths, and GPScoordinates and produces a file of images retrievable based on time andlocation. The collected images for a given time, latitude and longitudemay be compared with known images in accordance with known techniquesand filtered to eliminate those not containing some portion of theBridge. (The camera could be pointed in the wrong direction or otherwisenot capture the Bridge.)

Other uses than surveillance may come to mind of one of ordinary skillin the art.

While the invention has been described with respect to specific examplesincluding presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variationsand permutations of the above described systems and techniques that fallwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in theappended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system for creating an image file usingimage data from multiple camera systems, the system comprising: acomputer subsystem configured to: identify the multiple camera systemspositioned within a target array of location coordinates by comparinglocation coordinates associated with a plurality of camera systems,including the multiple camera systems, to the target array of locationcoordinates, including identifying multiple mobile camera systems movingthrough a region of interest corresponding to the target array oflocation coordinates, as identified camera systems; and retrieve imagedata from the identified camera systems, the image data including imagesof the region of interest corresponding to the target array of locationcoordinates, including images of the region corresponding to the targetarray of location coordinates obtained by each mobile camera system whenthe mobile camera system was within the target array of locationcoordinates.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer subsystem isfurther configured to create the image file using the image dataretrieved from the identified camera systems.
 3. The system of claim 2,wherein the computer subsystem, in being configured to create the imagefile, is further configured to identify unusual activity or an unusualobject by comparing the image data retrieved from the camera systems toarchived images.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein: the computersubsystem is configured to retrieve image data from at least onesatellite system; and the computer subsystem, in being configured tocreate the image file, is configured to create the image file using theimage data from the identified camera systems and the satellite system.5. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer subsystem, in beingconfigured to create the image file, is further configured to perform atleast one processing step selected from a group of processing stepsconsisting of: comparing the image data retrieved from one of the mobilecamera systems to image data retrieved from another one of the mobilecamera systems; and combining the image data retrieved from one of themobile camera systems to image data retrieved from another one of themobile camera systems.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein: the identifiedcamera systems include a stationary camera system in the regioncorresponding to the target array of location coordinates; and the imagedata retrieved from the stationary camera system includes images of theregion corresponding to the target array of location coordinatesobtained by the stationary camera system.
 7. The system of claim 2,wherein: the identified camera systems include a stationary camerasystem in the region corresponding to the target array of locationcoordinates; the image data retrieved from the stationary camera systemincludes images of the region corresponding to the target array oflocation coordinates obtained by the stationary camera system; and thecomputer subsystem, in being configured to create the image file, isfurther configured to compare the image data retrieved from the mobilecamera systems to the image data retrieved from the stationary camerasystem.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein: the array of locationcoordinates is a first array of location coordinates forming a firstcircle; the computer subsystem is further configured to, subsequent toidentifying camera systems having location coordinates within the firstarray of location coordinates, identify camera systems having locationcoordinates within a second array of location coordinates including asecond circle encompassing the first circle; and the computer subsystemis further configured to retrieve image data from camera systemsidentified as being within the second array of location coordinates. 9.The system of claim 2, wherein: the image data retrieved from eachcamera system of the identified camera systems includes at least onecamera system characteristic selected from a group of characteristicsconsisting of: a focal length corresponding to the camera system; and acompass heading corresponding to the camera system; and the computersubsystem, in being configured to create the image file, is furtherconfigured to combine images of the image data retrieved from theidentified camera systems using the location coordinates of theidentified camera systems and at least one of the camera systemcharacteristics.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein: the computersubsystem includes a memory; the image data retrieved from each camerasystem of the identified camera systems includes environmental conditioninformation corresponding to the location coordinates of the camerasystem; and the computer subsystem is further configured to store theimage data retrieved from the identified camera systems, including theenvironmental condition information, in the memory.
 11. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the computer subsystem, in being configured to createthe image file, is further configured to splice together overlappingimages of the image data retrieved from the identified camera systems tocreate a single image covering an area larger than that an area coveredby any one of the overlapping images.
 12. The system of claim 2, whereinthe computer subsystem, in being configured to create the image file, isfurther configured to align images of the image data retrieved from theidentified camera systems in a string to create a real-time video of theregion.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer subsystem, inbeing configured to align images of the image data retrieved from theidentified camera systems to create the real-time video, is configuredto consider: the location coordinates for each mobile camera system, ofthe mobile camera systems; a speed at which each mobile camera system ismoving past the region; and a time at which each mobile camera system ismoving past the region.
 14. The system of claim 2, wherein the computersubsystem, in being configured to create the image file, is furtherconfigured to identify relevant images of the images of the receivedimage data by filtering the receive image data to eliminate images thatdo not contain a certain object.
 15. The system of claim 2, wherein thecomputer subsystem, in being configured to create the image file, isfurther configured to identify relevant images of the images of thereceived image data by filtering the received image data to eliminateimages that do not contain a certain area.
 16. A system for creating animage file using image data from multiple camera systems, the systemcomprising: a computer subsystem configured to: identify camera systemspositioned within a target first array of location coordinates bycomparing location coordinates associated with a plurality of camerasystems, including the multiple camera systems, to the first targetarray of location coordinates, wherein first array of locationcoordinates forms a first circle; subsequent to identifying the camerasystems having location coordinates within the first array of locationcoordinates, identify camera systems having location coordinates withina second array of location coordinates including a second circleencompassing the first circle; retrieve image data from the identifiedcamera systems, the image data including images of the region ofinterest corresponding to the target array of location coordinates; andretrieve image data from camera systems identified as being within thesecond array of location coordinates.
 17. The system of claim 16,wherein the computer subsystem is further configured to create the imagefile using the image data retrieved from the identified camera systems.18. A system for creating an image file using image data from multiplecamera systems, the system comprising: a computer subsystem configuredto: identify the multiple camera systems positioned within a targetarray of location coordinates by comparing location coordinatesassociated with a plurality of camera systems, including the multiplecamera systems, to the target array of location coordinates, wherein theidentified camera systems include multiple mobile camera systems movingthrough the region corresponding to the target array of locationcoordinates; retrieve image data from the identified camera systems, theimage data including images of the region corresponding to the targetarray of location coordinates obtained by each mobile camera system ofthe mobile camera systems when each mobile camera system was within thetarget array of location coordinates; and create the image file usingthe image data retrieved from the identified camera systems, includingto perform at least one processing step selected from a group ofprocessing steps consisting of: comparing the image data retrieved fromone of the mobile camera systems to image data retrieved from anotherone of the mobile camera systems; and combining the image data retrievedfrom one of the mobile camera systems to image data retrieved fromanother one of the mobile camera systems.
 19. The system of claim 18,wherein: the computer subsystem, in being configured to create the imagefile, is further configured to align images of the image data retrievedfrom the identified camera systems in a string to create a real-timevideo of the region; the computer subsystem, in being configured toalign images of the image data retrieved from the identified camerasystems to create the real-time video, is configured to consider: thelocation coordinates for each mobile camera system, of the mobile camerasystems; a speed at which each mobile camera system is moving past theregion; and a time at which each mobile camera system is moving past theregion.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the computer subsystem isfurther configured to obtain, from external to the computer subsystem, atarget array of location coordinates corresponding to a region ofinterest.